Welcome to Episode 92 of the #Add A Zero Podcast, presented by Jay Allen and brought to you in association with My TrueNORTH, the UK’s leading ethical coaching company. In this thought-provoking episode, Jay dives deep into a subject critical to every business—ethics. Do ethics truly matter in business, or are they just buzzwords thrown around in mission statements and sales pitches? Join us as we challenge assumptions and explore a powerful real-world example that shows exactly why ethics can mean the difference between life and death—not just for public image, but literally.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why ethics, culture, and standards should be in place from day one

• The risks of neglecting business values and code of conduct

• A real-life (though anonymized) case study showing the tragic impact of unchecked unethical practices

• The importance of validation and accountability in business procedures

• How My TrueNORTH leads by example in the realm of business ethics

• Practical takeaways for business owners wanting to ensure authenticity and ethical standards from the ground up

Episode Overview

Most business owners assume that ethics, culture, and codes of conduct are things you deal with after you’ve grown—something to install “when you get to X size.” But as Jay Allen shares, this mindset is dangerously flawed. Using the fictional company “LearnCo” as a stand-in for a real company, Jay tells the story of how prioritizing metrics and rapid growth over genuine ethical standards can have catastrophic consequences.

LearnCo positioned itself as an innovative online training platform, offering businesses like Costa Coffee a one-stop solution for staff development and onboarding. With impressive metrics at their fingertips and promises of seamless reporting, companies flocked to LearnCo’s platform. But when a barista’s lack of adequate training led to a fatal error—a child’s tragic allergic reaction—the very foundation of half-measures, unchecked boxes, and lack of validation exposed the immense risks of ethical negligence.

Why Listen to This Episode?

• Real-World Lessons: This episode isn’t theoretical. Jay’s storytelling makes the cost of ethics failure painfully clear—reminding us all what’s truly at stake.

• Inspiration from the Experts: Learn how My TrueNORTH was recognized for its unwavering ethical stand, and how you can apply these learnings to your own business.

• Actionable Takeaways: Whether you’re a solopreneur or a CEO, you’ll walk away with concrete questions and challenges to raise your own standards.

Who Should Listen?

• Business owners and entrepreneurs serious about building scalable and sustainable companies

• HR professionals and training officers responsible for employee development and onboarding

• Board members and C-Suite leaders concerned with reputational risk and organizational resilience

• Anyone interested in the intersection of business growth, ethics, and real-world impact

• Suppliers, partners, and procurement professionals looking to validate claims of authenticity and ethical practice

Listener Challenge

As you finish this episode, ask yourself:

• Are you living up to the ethics and standards your brand claims?

• How do you verify your suppliers’ and partners’ claims of authenticity?

• Are you validating more than “box-ticking” performance metrics?

Email your thoughts, stories, and questions to podcast@mytruenorth.biz – Jay and the team welcome your feedback and real-world challenges.

Welcome to Episode 91 of the #Add A Zero Podcast, the go-to show for ambitious business owners committed to driving significant and sustainable growth for both themselves and their companies. Hosted by Jay Allen, founder of My True North and a renowned ethical business coach, this episode dives deep into one of the most overlooked keys to real progress: embracing failure as a crucial step toward success.

Whether you’re a small business owner, an entrepreneur with bold dreams, or a leader keen to future-proof your company, this episode is packed with practical insights, hard-earned lessons, and leadership strategies to help turn your obstacles into powerful opportunities.

• The Real Value of Failing Forward: Discover why mistakes and setbacks are not roadblocks but essential milestones on your business growth journey.

• Business “Banana Skins”: Learn to spot the most common pitfalls (Jay’s “banana skins”) successful businesses encounter – and how to avoid slipping up.

• Case Study – The 64% Revenue Risk: Hear a real-world client story about dangerous overreliance on a single income source, and how to shift toward a more resilient, diversified revenue model.

• Leadership Blind Spots: Uncover the subtle warning signs leaders often miss amid busy day-to-day operations—and how an outside perspective can reveal hidden opportunities and threats.

• The Power of Non-Negotiable Standards: Understand how maintaining and upholding consistent business standards is vital for trust, growth, and long-term reputation.

• Practical Steps for Sustainable Growth: Actionable advice to help implement change, evaluate your business from multiple perspectives, and lead with greater confidence and integrity.

In an eye-opening client case study, Jay discusses a company where a single client made up a staggering 64% of annual revenue. This overdependence created massive cash flow vulnerability, especially when payment terms slipped out of sync. Jay’s solution? Diversify revenue sources to ensure no invoice or client exceeds the net annual profit, drastically reducing risk and ensuring business continuity—no matter what happens to one major account.

Borrowing lessons from his time in the British Army, Jay explains the concept of “the standard”—a non-negotiable benchmark that defines how business is done. He warns against the slow erosion of standards (like quietly accepting late payments or overlooked conditions), because these small lapses can undermine trust and set dangerous precedents. “The standard is the standard,” he says—keep your word, uphold your terms, and maintain consistency in every facet of your company.

Even the best leaders can miss subtle signs of trouble: loyal team members leaving for competitors, suppliers bending rules, or seemingly small exceptions to your core policies. These “leadership blind spots” often go unaddressed when things are generally good, yet they can hide serious risks or lost opportunities underneath the surface. Jay stresses the value of seeking outside perspectives—from a coach, mentor, or even by role-playing as your own supplier or employee—to catch what you might otherwise overlook.

The episode closes with a call to action: regularly step out of your business and look back with a critical eye. Evaluate your company from the perspective of clients, suppliers, stakeholders, and potential recruits. This 360-degree view can be the catalyst for game-changing breakthroughs, revealing new paths for growth while protecting against avoidable disasters.

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Episode 90: How We Found £225,000 in Hidden Revenue – Real Business Audit Breakdown | #Add A Zero Podcast

Unlock hidden profits in your business! In this episode of the #Add A Zero Podcast, host Jay Allen shares the step-by-step process he used to discover over £225,000 of missed revenue for a business owner—before they even became a client. Dive into real examples of common business leaks: unbilled work, underpricing, missed upsell opportunities, and the importance of effective follow-up.

Whether you’re a small business owner or managing a thriving company, learn actionable strategies to plug hidden profit leaks and scale your revenue. Listen as we break down real-life business challenges, discuss ethical scaling, and showcase how My True North’s award-winning #AddAZERO methodology empowers UK business leaders to achieve sustainable growth.

Don’t miss:

• Real-world audit findings turning lost time into cash

• How a simple follow-up can immediately boost revenue

• Steps you can take today to uncover and reclaim lost profits in your business

• The value of ethical consultancy in sustainable business success

Subscribe for more powerful business growth tips and stories!
#BusinessGrowth #BusinessAudit #AddAZero #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #EthicalBusiness #RevenueGrowth #MyTrueNorth

— Presented by Jay Allen, Founder of My True North – The UK’s Leading Ethical Coaching Company
Listen now and discover the hidden gold in your business!